Disclaimer:
All characters and known situations belong to their respective owners. Everything else came from my own mind- scary place that it is sometimes. In no way shape or form have I made or intended to make a profit from this story…. All rights still belong to Stephanie… though it's a shame she never did anything more with the wolves… ah well.. There's always fan fiction

Author's Note: Wow, you guys, thanks for the reviews and follows and favorites. It blows my mind to see people enjoy my work lol. Alas, this chapter is a little long- I tried to cut it, but it's still longish, oh well… enjoy.

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Chapter 1

(Italics are conversations in the pack mind as well as memories)
(Italics between ~~ is Jacobs memories of what happened from the previous chapter)

Jacob would have grinned if he were able to once his feet hit the ground outside of Bella's window. He had phased in mid air and was met with the panicked sounds of new WOLVES in his head. It was only after they had calmed him that Jacob learned that, not only was it Quil, but it was Seth and Colin and Brady and finally the shock to their pack was Leah who had phased after learning her father had died in the hospital.

The pack had spent the better part of the night calming and soothing their new pack mates fears enough to phase back. They showed them how to phase back and forth and made sure they could do it effortlessly before sending them on their way to Sam's house. Emily had been called, and she along with Sue and Billy would take care of them while an impromptu meeting with the pack's oldest members was held. They did it all without Jacob's help.

It was only after the chaos died down that Sam remembered just WHY Jacob was late coming to help them. Paul growled at the mention of Bella's name and Jared only huffed in mild agitation.

"So you chose to stay with the little leech lover instead of being here, where you were needed! What the hell? She's NOT pack baby alpha, wake up and smell the lies." Paul growled menacingly.

"I wouldn't talk like that about her if you knew what I knew." Jacob teased.

Embry turned his massive head towards his best friend. "Alright. Spill it!" He snapped. He was more than a little agitated with his friend at the moment.

Sam watched them intently before turning to Jacob. "What's going on Jacob. You said earlier you had news…. That a leech was at Bella's house. You may as well show us all why you didn't call for any kind of back up. Things could have gotten ugly and you would have been on your own!" He growled.

"Don't say I didn't warn you." The smirk was evident in his voice even if he couldn't smirk as a wolf.

Paul only growled and lay under the low hanging branches of a nearby tree. Jared and Embry curled up near him; the need to touch and soothe their agitated brother was highly apparent in their lupine forms. Everyone waited for Jacob who turned once, then twice before finally plopping down on a patch of soft leaves on the forest floor- true to form for a typical wolf.~ ~

~~"Bella, since when did you get a dog?" Her voice was high pitched and grated on Jacob's ears.

"What do you mean?" Bella's voice sounded from around the corner.

"There's an awful wet dog smell coming from your kitchen area. When did you get a dog?"

"You're no bouquet of roses either, pixie." Jacob huffed walking into the living room.

"Jake?" Bella looked torn between upset and thankful he was there.

"I had to make sure you were alright." He insisted.

Bella sighed and stood from the couch, moving to hug him. "It's alright, I get it, Jake. I know." She loosely wrapped her arms around his waist and smiled up at him.

"Well I wouldn't hurt her!" Alice grumbled obviously not used to being ignored. Her nose wrinkled again, the unpleasant smell that much stronger. Her eyes widened in realization. "It's you!" She cried jumping up suddenly.~ ~

~ ~Jared snorted. "It took her THAT long to figure out that it was you who smelled like a wet dog? And they say WE'RE the dumb ones. Damn leeches are dense."

Jacob only rolled his eyes. "You done yet?"

"Oh shut up and let us see the rest, baby alpha. Damn you're annoying right now." Paul growled. Jacob only pictured himself smirking. He knew that aggravated Paul nearly as much as it did in their human forms.~ ~

~ ~"What's wrong Alice?" Bella wondered, watching her closely
.
Alice hissed shooting a glare towards the young native. "Bella you need to move away from him now! He's not safe!"

Jacob growled, his muscles tense and shaking. "More safe than you pixie." His wolf bristled at the insinuation that he'd ever harm a human being intentionally.

"Bella, he's a werewolf! They're nothing but vicious and angry beasts! You need to get away from him! He'll phase and hurt you the second he loses his temper!" Alice all but screeched, fear evident in her eyes.~ ~

~ ~ Sam's wolf growled at that. They didn't intentionally hurt humans. The rest of those in attendance growled their annoyance and agreed with their Alpha. They weren't the killers, the leeches were.~ ~

~ ~"I know he is. But he would also never hurt me. I'll be ok, Alice." Bella said, her eyes not leaving Jacob's. "I trust him with my life." She smiled when the tremors stopped while their eyes stayed locked together. "He's my best friend, and truth be told, I think I kinda love him."

"No, you don't under- you know?" Alice was stunned silent.

"I know about the pack. They're my friends." Bella told her, once again turning to look at her.

"And just how many wolves do you hang around Bella? There were no wolves around when we lived here! Obviously they're trying to take over our territory! They're nothing but animals! They're not safe!" Alice insisted.

"A few." Bella shrugged, not wanting to tell her exactly how large it was. It was like she was instinctually protecting them. Pride filled their minds as they watched. "And they're perfectly safe!"

Alice rolled her eyes. "Bella… werewolves are NOT good company to keep!" She all but groaned.

"Speak for yourself leech!" Jacob snapped. "At least we don't lust after blood! And none of the pack have EVER broken up and left someone in the woods to freeze to death!"

Alice went rigid suddenly, her eyes glazed over slightly. She was quiet for a only few short moments as she got lost in her vision. She was staring and unfocused as everything played out like a movie clip in her mind. Her gasp after the brief silence caused Jacob's proverbial hackles to rise. "Oh no!"

"Alice? What's wrong?" Bella wondered holding tight to Jacob's hand.

"It's Edward! Rosalie told him I saw you jumping off the cliffs and dying before I came here. He's going to the Volturi now to ask them to kill him! If they don't help he's going to expose us to the humans and kill himself Bella!" Alice groaned in panic.

Bella was shocked. "What? Why would he do that?"

"Because he still loves you! He thinks you're dead! He means to kill himself because he doesn't want to be without you in this life!" Alice huffed, talking to her as if she were a small child.

The growl coming from Jacob was quiet but no less menacing. "He LEFT her here in the woods ALONE! What RIGHT does he have to worry anymore?!"

"Shh. Jake… it's ok…shh." She must have known he was still shaken by her near death experience, or that he was thinking about how she had acted when Edward left her.

"Alice, he told me I meant nothing to him. Why would he die for me? He said he never loved me. That he didn't want me anymore!" Bella huffed.

"We need to go Bella! I can explain why we left on the way to the airport, but he'll die if you don't come with me now!" Alice cried standing in a flurry of movement. "I'll have to call Jenks and tell him to secure two tickets to Volterra right this minute. There should be a private jet waiting at the airport ready to fly now-"

Alice's cold hand on her now warm arm as she tried to drag her away from Jacob and to the door must have shocked her. "No!" Bella yelled jumping away from the now unfamiliar touch..~ ~

They were all of them amazingly floored. Paul had always been extremely loud when it came to his dislike of Bella. Sam had held his reservations, but to see this, to hear her speak so kindly about them… it was all any of them could do to keep their thoughts that maybe they had misjudged her. He heard Jared snicker when Paul's wolf whined in shame at his mistreatment of the girl. Embry only sighed and asked Jake to show them what else had happened.

~ ~Alice stopped rambling and looked at her with astonished and questioning eyes. "Bella?"

"I'm sorry I-I can't…I won't leave. Edward left me here… in the woods… alone. He told me I wasn't good enough for him or his family. Jake is right. I'm just now living again…it took six months to even begin to say his name again… my friends have helped me so much the past few months…so…I-I'm staying here… with Jake…and the pack." Bella said leaning into his body for support. She settled comfortably with her back against his front.

Bella's temple was kissed and arms were wrapped around her waist. They could see it perfectly when Jacob rested his chin on her shoulder and looked at the vampire in front of them. If looks could kill, both he and Bella would be in the ground faster than a vampire or werewolf could honestly move.

Her eyes narrowed dangerously, turning black as her ire raised. "You would choose those DOGS over your family?! Bella, we love you! You may not be a vampire yet, but you belong with us!" Alice was shocked still.

Jacob's growl was quieted by Bella's lips on his skin as she leaned her head back on his shoulder and placed a gentle kiss to his jaw- a highly lupine gesture of submission. She moved her head back to face her once upon a time best friend.

"First of all, they're WOLVES, not dogs. Second off, JACOB was there for me- the PACK was there for me- when I needed them the most. I was nothing more than a glorified PET to you and Edward! 'Dress this way, Bella. Act that way Bella. You mustn't talk like that Bella. Don't say that Bella. Bella, think this way. BE this way.' At least with the pack I can be myself!"

"Bella-" Alice was shocked.

"You called yourselves my family. You WOULD have been if Edward had turned me in the FIRST place! I really would have regretted it by now, but it's what I thought I wanted at the time. I had a family for the first time in forever- one that I thought loved me. Instead my boyfriend leaves me in the woods and my so called family abandons me at the drop of a hat!" She took a deep breath and started again.

"You lost your chance to be my family. The pack is my family now- my REAL family. They're my friends, my brothers, my protectors, and I hope to call Jacob my boyfriend when it's all said and done." She paused to look up as she laced their fingers together. "They'd not leave when it gets too tough."

Bella's voice was strong and confident. They could all of them feel the pride Jacob felt for her in that moment.

"Bella, they're dangerous! They can hurt you easily! They're not stable enough to be around you without getting angry and putting scars on you!" Alice said desperately. "All it takes is just one time, just once and you'll die from the wounds they can create!"

"That was all on YOU leech! YOU were the ones who put her life in danger! Multiple times I might add! YOU were the ones who put scars on her arms! YOU were the ones who ATTACKED her!" Jacob growled, his body vibrating with rage. Alice rolled her eyes and chose to ignore him.

Bella's soft hand on his arm gently rubbing his skin soothed him. "It's true. They could hurt me. It almost happened too, when I provoked Paul." She admitted with a with a shrug of her shoulders.~ ~

~ ~The Pack- the oldest members to be precise- remembered when Bella had first learned of their secret right after Jacob had changed and provoked Paul's anger by smacking him. Paul whined again and moved to lay down next to where Jake and Sam were sitting with his tail tucked beneath him. Jake nipped his shoulder affectionately- a gesture to tell him it was history and he was forgiven.~ ~

~ ~"But they'd not hurt me. Paul even stopped himself from attacking me. He wouldn't hurt me like that, I don't think he ever really could."

"How do you know? You just said you almost got hurt by him once. Everything I've been told us about them says they are brutes and will attack with no warning!" Alice stomped her foot. "From what I see here and now, clearly I'm right."~ ~

~ ~Embry growled at that. "Stupid leeches think they know everything." He snorted. Jared and Paul agreed. Sam was amused that it was Embry to comment. He was one of the most passive wolves the pack had. Jacob only released a huff of amusement at all their thoughts.~ ~

~ ~Bella shrugged. "When it's called for, yes, they have highly volatile tempers. Paul could have torn me apart. I was the one foolish enough to smack him. That was MY fault Alice. Not his. I provoked him! He reacted to the violence of the act- his wolf reacted to it. And for the fact that he didn't and still doesn't really trust me; he was protecting his pack. He was protecting his home. I'll admit they all have tempers, but underneath that, they are still human. Just boys with a HUGE responsibility on their shoulders. I would be a fool to turn away from them now that they've shown me their loyalty."

"But Bella-"

"Besides, they're protecting me from Victoria. That's something not even YOU thought of." Bella told her.

Alice gasped. "She's here?! But Edward is hunting her! He would have said something if he had seen her head towards Forks! I would have seen her decide to come back here!"

"She has the gift of evasion Alice, and she knows you can see the future, I'm sure she'd find a way to avoid making any long term decisions for a while. The pack is going to protect me now. They'll keep me safe from her till they can find a way to take her out."

Alice pouted. "You really won't come and save him then will you? Don't you care about the family at all? Didn't you love him? Don't you love him still?" she asked quietly. ~ ~

~ ~"Typical leech! She played the guilt card trying to make Bella go with her anyways!" Jared snarled.

Paul growled with his brother. "Fucking bloodsuckers."

"What has you so amused Jake?" Embry asked.

Jacob grinned. "It's almost done. Do you want to see or are there going to be anymore interruptions?"

"Show us." Sam demanded. "No one else is to interrupt until everything has been seen!" His command was heavy and the wolves had no choice but to abide by his order.

~ ~Bella sighed. They could all feel Jacob's tension as he waited for the answer. "I loved the IDEA of him Alice. But I gave up who I was for someone. I NEVER want to be like that again. I WILL never be like that again."

Triumph raced through them from Jacob's mind. All of them could feel it, all of them could picture the smile he wore. If not for the order, they would have been whooping in victory themselves.

"And… you're happy?" Alice hesitantly pressed.

"And then some!" Bella assured her.

"Well then… I have to go save Edward from himself. Be safe Bella." Alice was very subdued and swallowed thickly. She turned to Jacob. "I'll be back when this mess with my brother is sorted out. Don't get too… comfortable." It was said quiet enough that Bella couldn't understand it but he had. A warning growl was given in reply. With that, she was gone.

Bella sagged against him when the door was closed and sighed. "Jake?"

"Yeah Bells?"

"Thank you." She whispered.

"For what honey?" He asked as they moved to the couch. It was hard to believe all that was said while they had been standing in the doorway to the living room.

Bella hugged him tightly. "You let me do that alone. You could have left but you stayed. You could have talked over me, instead you kept calm and let me take care of it and say what I needed to say. You were there for me. Just… thank you!"

Jacob smiled. "You're welcome. I'll always be here for you Bells." He promised.

"I hope so." Bella smirked.

"Boyfriend huh." She was pulled onto his lap, the tone of his voice light and teasing.

Bella smiled and answered him with a chaste kiss to his lips before touching her forehead to his. A sudden thought she had made her giggle. That giggle cascaded into a full blown laugh after a few moments.

"What's so funny?"

"I've never said no to Alice before. I don't think anyone ever has." She told him with a goofy smile. "She was pouting like a toddler who had been told they couldn't have any more candy!"

"She didn't seem to happy."

"No, she didn't did she? But you wanna know a secret?" She asked as her lips brushed his.

"What's that Bells?" He asked as he returned the favor.

"I'm happy." Bella whispered, her eyes closing as Jacob kissed her softly.

Jacob carefully cupped her face in one of his giant hands. "Yeah? You mean that? You're happy with me… with staying here, with not leaving?"

"I do. I am. I can just be me with you. No pretending, no caution. Just plain old, clumsy, silly me. As easy as breathing. Just Jake and Bells." She grinned.

"Jake and Bells… I think I like the sound of that." He whispered with a wide grin.

"I do too." She whispered in return wrapping her arms around his neck.

"I have to tell the pack what happened you know." He said leaning in to just barely brush his lips against hers.

Bella pouted. "Come with me to bed. Just until I fall asleep. Dad is still over at the Clearwaters' house. I don't want to be alone Jake. Please?"

Jacob smiled. "Alright. Go on, get ready for bed. I'll call Sam. Once your asleep I'll phase to show the pack what happened. After that I'll come back and lay on the couch. Sound like a plan?" He asked.

Bella gave him a wide happy smile. "Yeah. Hurry up." She laughed.

The wolves sighed, having already seen the conversation in Sam's head. They all wanted to know what happened after that to make Jacob so happy. Jacob only chuckled and thought to what happened after the phone call.~ ~

~ ~With the phone back in his pocket and the noise quieted down from Bella's room, Jacob was slinking up the steps. He slowly opened her door and smiled when he saw her already under her covers. He crossed the floor to her bed and smiled down at her. He watched her fold back the covers and scoot over to leave room for him as well as pat the mattress beside her. She was in a black spaghetti strap tank top that could pass as second skin it was so tight, and matching and extremely short sleep shorts. He could tell based on the lack of lines that there was nothing else underneath.

"I'm not gonna bite Jake. Stop looking like you'd rather run away from me. Unless… I mean…you can leave if you want to…" Bella sighed.

"Nuh uh. Don't think like that Bells. I'd love to. I'm trying to calm my hormones. My wolf wants out." He said with closed eyes.

Bella grinned coyly. "Well let him out." She said with a raised eyebrow.

Jacob licked his suddenly very dry lips. "Bells… please… don't tempt me."

"Come here Jake. Please." Bella whispered huskily holding her hand out to him.

Jake growled then, a low predatory sound that sent shivers down Bella's spine. He crawled deliberately slowly over her prone form. "You're playing with fire Bella." He whispered gruffly against her lips.

Bella whimpered. "So don't let me get burned." She challenged before dragging him down for a searing kiss.

As he raised one of her thighs to his waist and ground his hips against hers, lost in a world of spiraling pleasure and hunger for the woman beneath him, he couldn't help but feel a slight bit smug that he was her final choice.

His kisses moved from her lips to her ear, to her neck where he attacked the flesh with soft nips meant to leave a mark. Bella giggled at his antics before bringing their lips back together. She groaned when he pushed his hips harder against her causing pleasure to race through her body. Her nails trailed down his back hard enough to draw pink lines in his tanned skin. She smirked when he shuddered, his muscles rippling beneath the surface of his skin at her touch. She gasped when his fingers brushed over her already erect nipples through the cotton of her tank top.

A howl pierced the fog of lust surrounding the two causing Bella to freeze. When a second then a third, fourth, and fifth howl were raised into the air, he cursed.

"Jake?"

"It's nothing bad… well kind of. We have a new brother to welcome."

Bella smiled. "Go."

"But…"

"You can make it up to me later. Your pack needs you right now." She kissed his chest, right over his heart. "Go."

Jacob would never be as grateful to the spirits as he was then. Bella understood him, knew when she should be clingy and when to let him do what was needed. "Even if you're not ready to say it out loud, I DO love you Bella. I always have, and I always will." He whispered.

Bella smiled. "Love you too Jake. Always." She answered him readily causing Jacob's breath to hitch. "Now go. Just come back soon." ~ ~

~ ~ They were all stunned silent. Not only had they all seen Bella send away one of her precious Cullen's, but she had admitted to Jacob that she did indeed love him. It would have been something to celebrate if not for the dark cloud looming over the young wolf's head.

"Jake… I hate to rain on your well earned parade… but bro… what happens when you imprint?" Jared asked shyly.

Jacob sighed.

"Jake?" Embry prodded gently. "Did you… what's wrong? You look really upset right now dude. Even as a wolf."

Jacob sighed again and looked at them all. "I started going through the old pack journals. When I didn't imprint on her, I was…little more than angry. I was so afraid that she would never be mine… but guys… it… I…"

"What is it Jake?" Sam worried.

"I'm meant to be the true alpha. It was something going all the way back to Taha Aki… he had three wives… he didn't imprint on all three… he CHOSE them." He said.

Sam was confused. "What are you trying to say Jake?"

"My dad and Old Quil helped me read the journals, Harry too before he passed away. In every one of them the alpha has never imprinted." He hedged.

"But Sam's the alpha… he imprinted on Emily." Jared said slowly trying to understand what was being said.

"Yeah, but Jake is the rightful Alpha." Embry reminded him.

"So… you'll never imprint?" Paul asked.

"No… so long as my wolf agrees, I can choose who my mate will be." Jake told them as he stared at the grass in front of him. "Nothing will happen unless I mark her, she can still walk away. But… I'll never imprint." He said quietly. It was almost as if he was scared of the chaos this would cause.

Sam sighed. "It makes sense in a way. Does… is your wolf happy with Bella?"

Jacob huffed in amusement. "Yeah… um… if the howls hadn't have gone up… Bella wouldn't be so sweet and innocent right now." He admitted somewhat sheepishly. "You all saw what almost happened… that wasn't just my overactive mind thinking about that shit."

Jared shook his head. "There's so much more to her than we all know." He mused.

"She just wants you all to accept her. She's a really good person deep down. And she likes all of you. Even Paul… as you guys have all seen." Embry grinned, his tongue lolling out to the side. Jacob nodded his gigantic wolf head in agreement.

The pack was shocked silent. It was a first for them. Paul was especially stunned. She had…defended him…after everything he had done and said to her, she had told the leech he wasn't as dangerous as he actually was. She told the leech that she was the one to provoke the wolf in him, and he had stopped himself from lunging after her. It wasn't true, if not for Jacob, he would have at least knocked her flat on her smug little rear end- nothing to cause her bodily harm, just something to scare her a little. But she had defended him against that. He just didn't understand it. At all.

"I told you Paul, so did Em and Quil. She's a good person." Jacob quipped breaking up his already scrambled thoughts.

"I can't believe she chose to stay. She's wanted him back for so long… We all knew it… I never expected her to stay here…willingly." Jared was quiet after that.

"I think it's clear we ALL owe her an apology. We'll wait till morning and then go and see her. Maybe she would welcome some company for a while since her dad will be working most of the day." Sam told them. For once, even Paul readily agreed. It was after that that their impromptu meeting was called to a close. They all phased back and started for home, laughing and joking as they went not noticing they were one wolf short.

Jared noticed Paul missing the closer they got to home. They had been next door neighbors since they were born, and because of that, best friends. He sighed and headed back to the small clearing they had just left. He found Paul sitting in the soft grass, cut offs damp from the dew, lost in thought. He patted him on the shoulder and sat next to him, waiting until Paul at least glanced at him before talking.

"You alright man?" He was slightly shocked when Paul only shrugged.

"Maybe. I just… I don't get it. Why would she do that?" It was hard for Paul to accept still. He was used to everyone but his pack brothers being afraid of him. He was used to them turning their backs on him, and letting him down. But the little slip of a girl that their future alpha was in love with had defended him.

"It's something to ask her. I think she's come to accept it honestly. Like she told the leech… we're still just kids…mostly. And she seems to get that." Jared shrugged.

"I guess. You DO know she's the same age as us, right?" Paul smirked.

"Yeah, but SO much more mature… as in she's middle aged in the way she thinks… according to Billy and the other elders at least." Jared shook his head with a sigh.

Paul rolled his eyes. "Makes for some dull conversation."

"Maybe. Not according to Quil, Embry and Jake. They all think she's a spitfire. She must be something, I mean… she smacked you clear across the face." Jared snickered.

"Yeah, well… we'll see. Night bro." Paul stood and waved him off before heading to his own home. It was going to be a long night.